A cheesy omelet and a few slabs of crispy bacon at 11 p.m. A greasy burger draped in neon yellow cheese alongside some salty french fries and a giant glass of Cherry Coke at midnight. A slice of sugary sweet apple pie at 1 a.m. These are the things that keep the Instigator up at night.
For all of Concord's mouth-watering culinary options – and we readily admit there are many – the one that seems to have gotten away is a classic, all-night diner. Heck, I'd even settle for a late-night diner.
Don't get me wrong, Concord has diners, and good ones. But they close up shop a little early to fill the particular void I seek to fill. I'm talking finished-up-a-night-out-with-your-buddies, one-last-stop-before-you-stumble-home, man-I-could-really-go-for-some-pancakes-right-before-bed kind of joints.
For I readily admit that breakfast is good for breakfast. But you know what it's even better for?
A midnight snack.
There aren't many foods you can eat at 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. and receive the same satisfaction from. Diner food was created by the great roller-skating waitress in the sky for that very reason. Whether it's the first thing I eat or the last thing, almost any food created on an oily, scratched-up flat-top grill has a happy home in my belly.
The all-night diner is an iconic establishment. It's the perfect place to gather after you've gathered at all the other places you need to gather that day. No matter where your evening of entertainment begins, the diner is where it is supposed to end. Don't argue with me. It's science.
Diners aren't necessarily much to look at, so I'm not calling for the Taj Mahal of Fluffy Flapjacks. All I need are some crusty booths, a floor that looks like it hasn't been swept since Gov. John Lynch was starting his first term in office and a place to get a cheap cup of bottomless coffee and a decadent glazed donut a little after the previous night has turned into the following morning.
Local establishments have tried valiantly to fill the void. The Draft began serving up late-night breakfast options, staying open well beyond midnight to do so. It was a worthy attempt. But you can't be out enjoying a few libations with friends and then finish the night with greasy eats in the same location. Don't blame me; those are just the rules.
The argument against such an establishment in Concord is no doubt that there isn't a customer base to support the quest. I beg to differ. If the Instigator is sitting at home craving a cheeseburger nestled in a bun be-spotted with sesame seeds and served in a plastic tray lined with wax paper at 1:30 a.m., surely there have to be others sharing the same mouth-watering musings.
Don't ignore the people. Certainly there is someone out there looking to open the doors to a Mecca of meals for the late-night crowd.
First slice of pie is on me.
